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How To Jump-Start The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse

If the battery (or batteries) in your 2018 Chevrolet Traverse run down, you could use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your Traverse. The following steps explain how to do so safely.

Before attempting to jump-start your vehicle, please observe the following warnings.

Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Batteries also contain other chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer. General Motors strongly advises that you wash your hands after handling.

Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because they contain acid that can burn you, they contain gas that can explode or ignite, they contain enough electricity to burn you. If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or all of these things can hurt you.

Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to the vehicle that would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Trying to start the vehicle by pushing or pulling it will not work, and it could damage the vehicle.

These instructions are provided purely for informational purposes. GM Authority shall not be held responsible for any potential damages to your vehicle, yourself, or others as result of these instructions.

2018 Chevrolet Traverse: Step-By-Step Jump-Starting Instructions

1. 12-volt requirement: check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.

If the other vehicle does not have a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. Only use a vehicle that has a 12-volt system with a negative ground for jump starting.

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach. Be sure the vehicles are not touching each other. If they are, it could cause an unwanted ground connection. You would not be able to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems of the vehicles. To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in the jump start procedure. Put the automatic transmission in P (Park) or a manual transmission in Neutral before setting the parking brake. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear, not in N (Neutral).

Caution: if any accessories are left on or plugged in during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. Whenever possible, turn off or unplug all accessories on either vehicle when jump starting.

3. Turn the ignition off on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the accessory power outlets. Turn off the radio and all the lamps that are not needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. It could also save the radio presets and clock setting.

Warning: an electric fan can start up even when the engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any underhood electric fan.

Warning: using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this, and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if you need more light. Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you. Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with water and get medical help immediately.

Warning: Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engine is running.

4. Locate positive and negative terminal locations: open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on that vehicle. The positive (+) terminal is under a red plastic cover at the positive battery post. To uncover the positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover.

5. Jumper cable check: check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock and the vehicles could also be damaged.

Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know:

Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

Negative (−) will go to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.

Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you will get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too.

Do not connect the negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on the dead battery because this can cause sparks.

6. Remove cover: the positive jump start connection for the Traverse’s battery is under a cover. Remove the cover to expose the terminal.

7. Connect positive on vehicle with dead battery: connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery.

8. Do not let the other end touch metal. Instead, connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

9. Connect negative end of good battery: connect the black negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one. Do not let the other end touch anything until the next step.

10. Connect negative end of bad battery: connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to the metal bracket that is bolted to the engine and supports the resonator, on the vehicle with the dead battery.

11. Start vehicle with good battery: start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while.

12. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

13. Remove jumper cables: reverse the sequence exactly when removing the jumper cables. After starting the disabled vehicle and removing the jumper cables, allow it to idle for several minutes.

Caution: if the jumper cables are connected or removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always connect and remove the jumper cables in the correct order, making sure that the cables do not touch each other or other metal.

Questions?

If you followed these instructions and have further questions, head on over to post them in our Chevrolet forum.